Impact Behaviour of Fibre-reinforced Composite Materials and Structures

Much of the early, pioneering work on the properties of composites under impact is still conceptually relevant, yet the results of many such analyses are outdated. The accuracy of these results depend specifically on the materials used (fibre, resin), interface, and method of fabrication. Development of new materials, cost effective design, and analysis and prediction of structural behaviour have all established a need for timely, wide ranging research on impact behaviour. Impact Behaviour of Fibre-Reinforced Composite Materials and Structures brings together - for the first time - state-of-the-art research from the most recent works of leading, international experts. An important new study, this book extensively investigates impact response, damage tolerance, and failure of fibre-reinforced composite materials and structure, from a number of expert viewpoints. This book explores the nature of modern polymer composites based on glass, carbon, aramid, ceramic and polymer fibres in a polymer matrix, and details various ways of analysing the impact process. Impact Behaviour of Fibre-Reinforced Composite Materials and Structures will prove itself a valuable tool for research and development engineers, structural engineers, materials scientists, designers, and students and researchers of related disciplines.